Expandable shower enclosure

ABSTRACT

A shower enclosure comprises a stationary structure ( 1 ) and a movable structure ( 2 ). The movable structure ( 2 ) has a curved wall panel ( 10 ), a floor ( 11 ) and an upper member ( 12 ). A curved door ( 14 ) is pivotally hinged to the movable structure ( 2 ). The movable structure ( 2 ) is pivotally connected to the stationary structure ( 1 ) about axis Y 1 . The movable structure ( 2 ) can be moved from a standby or storage position in which the movable structure ( 2 ) is stowed inside the stationary structure ( 1 ) to an in-use position in which the movable structure ( 2 ) is pivoted outwardly from the stationary structure ( 1 ) to form a larger shower enclosure.

The invention is described in the following statement:

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to shower cubicles, and in particular to showercubicles adapted for incorporation in a confined space, such is oftenfound, for example in an ensuite, a mobile home, a boat or the like. Theinvention is primarily described in relation to a mobile home of thekind referred to as a motor home which is, frequently at any rate, asmall bus type vehicle fitted out internally with cupboards, toilets, asmall stove, bunks, and fittings of that nature, but it is notrestricted to that embodiment. The invention is well adapted forincorporation in any portable or permanent structure in which space andfloor area are limited. The invention also relates to a component orsystem for retrofitting to existing shower cubicles to increase theeffective size of such shower cubicles.

BACKGROUND ART

In most motor homes it is necessary to have a shower recess or a showercubicle. When not in use, the shower cubicle is objectionable, in thatit is obtrusive and takes up considerable floor area that could, withadvantage be used for other purposes. There are known types of showercubicles which are expansible by virtue of sliding overlapping walls.Examples of these are taught in International Patent Publication No.W096/11124 and French patent 2252-073 These known types of expansibleshower cubicles allow for the possibility of reducing the floor areaoccupied by the cubicle when not in use. However, a number ofdisadvantages exist with such shower cubicles. Firstly the necessarytrack and slide means for the movable side walls encroach into theuseable cubicle space. Secondly, they include complex arrangements toprovide a drainage floor pan which is useable in the in useconfiguration and concealed during a standby configuration.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a shower cubicle comprising a stationarystructure and a movable structure, said stationary structure having afirst floor portion, a rear wall extending substantially along a rearedge of said first floor portion, and two side walls coinciding withrespective side edges of said first floor portion, said movablestructure having a wall panel, and a second floor portion, said movablestructure pivotally connected to said stationary structure about asubstantially vertical first axis; said cubicle admitting of twoconfigurations, namely an in-use configuration wherein said movablestructure is in a pivotally outward position, and a standbyconfiguration in which said second floor portion is substantially stowedwithin said stationary structure and said wall panel of said movablestructure substantially spans between said two side walls of saidstationary structure.

Preferably said movable structure has an upper member projecting fromsaid wall panel.

Preferably, said movable structure also has an entry door.

Preferably said entry door is pivotally hinged about a substantiallyvertical second axis between said upper member and said second floorportion.

Preferably, at least a part of said first floor portion is recessed toconstitute a drainage pan.

Preferably said shower cubicle further comprises a lifting mechanism forlifting said movable structure as it is pivotally moved from said in-useconfiguration to said standby configuration, thereby allowing saidsecond floor portion to raise above and travel over said first floorportion. The lifting mechanism preferably comprises a ramp mechanism,preferably having a roller or wheel mounted at or near the front edge ofthe first floor portion and a ramp track located underneath the secondfloor portion. Other mounting positions of the wheel and ramp track mayalso be used.

Preferably said stationary structure has a ceiling member.

Preferably said stationary structure is an integrally formed plasticunit.

Preferably upper and lower pivots defining said first substantiallyvertical axis are attached to said stationary structure.

Preferably said wall panel is curved.

Preferably said entry door is curved.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus forconnecting to a shower cubicle, said apparatus comprising a compartmenthaving a floor means and a walls means, and a connection means forconnecting said compartment to the shower cubicle, characterised in thatsaid compartment is pivotally moveable with respect to said showercubicle when connected thereto.

Preferably, the connection means comprises a lower bracket for mountingto a lower part of the shower cubicle, said lower bracket includingpivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said compartment thereto.

In another embodiment, the connection means comprises an upper bracketfor mounting to an upper part of the shower cubicle, said upper bracketincluding pivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said compartmentthereto. More preferably, the mounting means comprises both the upperbracket and the lower bracket as described above.

In another embodiment, the connection means comprises upper and lowermounting means on said compartment that engage with complementary upperand lower mounting means on the shower cubicle to thereby pivotallymount the compartment to the shower cubicle.

The apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention preferablyfurther comprises a lifting mechanism for lifting said compartment as itis pivotally mounted from an in use configuration to a standbyconfiguration, thereby allowing the floor means of the compartment toraise above and travel over a floor of the shower cubicle. The liftingmechanism preferably comprises a ramp mechanism, preferably having aroller or wheel that interacts with a ramp track to thereby lift theforward cubicle as it is moved from an open position to a closedposition.

The ramp mechanism is preferably formed on an underside part of thecompartment. The wheel or roller may be mounted to the lower bracket orto the shower cubicle.

The compartment may further comprise an entry door. The entry door maybe pivotally mounted to the compartment. The entry door allows easyentry and egress into and from the shower when the compartment is inuse.

The lower bracket may also be provided with a false floor extending, inuse, into the shower cubicle. The false floor is provided to ensure thatan even or level floor is achieved in the shower cubicle and the forwardcompartment. If the lower bracket is not provided with a false floor, afalse floor may preferably be fitted to the shower cubicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a shower cubicle according to theinvention shown in its in use configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shower cubicle of FIG. 1 shown inits standby configuration;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of theshower cubicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged planned schematic view of the shower cubicle shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the door pivot mechanism of the showercubicle shown in FIG. 4 through lines AA;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the door ramp mechanism of theshower cubicle in FIG. 4 through lines BB;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a compartment in accordance with thesecond aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an apart and in-line for assembly view of a preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the second aspect of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the shower cubicle in accordance with thepresent invention in a closed configuration; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 in an openconfiguration.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION

The shower cubicle of the preferred embodiment comprises of a stationarystructure 1 and a movable structure 2 pivotally connected thereto abouta vertical axis Y₁. The stationary structure 1, which is preferably anintegral plastic unit, comprises a stationary floor 3, a rear wall 4extending substantially along a rear edge of the floor 3, two side walls5 and 6 coinciding with respective side edges of the floor 3, and aceiling member 9. The floor 3 has a plurality of ribs 7 formed thereon.A recessed drainage pan 8 is also formed along the front edge of thefloor 3.

The moveable structure 2 comprises a curved wall or closure panel 10from which extends a floor portion 11 near its bottom edge and an uppermember 12 extending from its upper edge. The wall panel 10, floorportion 11 and upper member 12 are preferably an integrally mouldedplastic unit. The floor portion 11 has structural steel member 23thereunder. A curved door 14, which is preferably made of acrylicplastic, is pivotally hinged to the movable structure 2 about a verticalaxis Y₂ between the upper member 12 and the floor portion 11. Themovable structure 2 is pivotally connected to the stationary structure 1about axis Y₁ by means of pivot members 15 and 16. A steel triangularbrace member 17 is fitted to the stationary structure 1 and is adaptedto receive the upper pivot 15 which engages with the movable structure2. The lower pivot 16 is adapted to engage with a spring 18 containedwithin a housing support member 19 attached to the lower portion of thestationary structure 1. The spring 18 is preferably adapted to support90% of the weight of the movable structure 2.

In use the movable structure 2 is adapted to be movably pivoted betweena standby configuration to an in-use configuration. In the standbyconfiguration the wall panel 10 spans between the side walls 5 and 6,and the door 14 which is pivotally connected thereto is substantiallyhoused within the enclosed space of the shower cubicle, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. In order to open the shower cubicle to an in-useconfiguration the wall panel 10 is pivotally rotated in a clockwisedirection C as shown in FIG. 1.

In the in use configuration the floor portion 11 of the movablestructure 2 is at the same level as the floor 3 of the stationarystructure 1, and the bottom edge of the wall panel 10 seats firmly onthe floor structure of the mobile home or other space in which theshower cubicle stands. However, as the movable structure 2 is pivotallymoved to the standby configuration in an anticlockwise direction, a doorramp mechanism as shown in FIG. 6, which includes a roller wheel 20rotatably mounted to a housing 22 secured to the front edge of floor 3,and a ramp track 21 underneath the floor portion 11, is used to lift themovable structure 2 as it is moved inwardly, in order to allow floorportion 11 to raise above and travel over the drainage pan 8 and thefloor 3 of the stationary structure 1.

An advantage of the present invention, is that the interior of theshower cubicle does not contain tracks or guideways which intrude intothe useable space of the shower cubicle as occurs in the number of knownexpansible shower cubicles. Furthermore, the shower cubicle in itsin-use configuration provides for greater space and access through thedoor 14, whilst in the standby or collapsed configuration thesubstantial part of the upper member 12, floor portion 11 and door 14are substantially stowed away or housed inside the stationary structure.Furthermore, the curved wall panel 10 provides an aesthetically pleasingarrangement.

A further advantage of this embodiment is that the integrally mouldedplastic movable structure 2 is symmetrical and may be inverted such thatthe upper member 12 becomes the floor portion 11 and vice versa. Duringconstruction the pivots 15 and 16 may be positioned near side wall 5rather than side wall 6, and the shower cubicle would then become leftside opening, rather than right side opening as shown in the abovementioned embodiment. In such a left side opening embodiment the bracemember 17 need only be flipped over to suite the configuration, and thehousing support member 19 and roller wheel 20/housing 22 flipped overand swapped around to suit such configuration.

The apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Referring first to FIG. 7, theapparatus includes a compartment 100. This compartment 100 comprises aforward compartment when in use in a shower cubicle and will be referredto hereinafter as the forward compartment. The forward compartment 100also comprises a curved wall 103 and an entry door 104. The forwardcompartment 100 also comprises a curved wall or closure panel 103 and anentry door 104. Entry door 104 is pivotally mounted along vertical axis105 to the forward compartment 100. The ceiling 102 of the forwardcompartment 100 is provided with bracket 106 fixed thereto. Bracket 106includes upwardly extending projection 107. The function of upwardlyextending projection 107 will be described in more detail hereunder.

Turning now to FIG. 8, which shows the forward compartment of FIG. 7apart and in line for assembly, as can be seen, the floor 101 of theforward compartment comprises a moulded plastic unit. A base support 108is fixed to the underside of floor 101 by means of suitable fixing means109. The base support is preferably made from aluminium plate and isdesigned to increase the strength of the floor 101.

The wall 103 includes an outer panel 103A and an inner panel 103B. Outerpanel 103A and inner panel 103B are fixed to the floor 101 by insertingthe respective lower edges thereof into suitable shaped receiving meansformed in the floor 101. Similarly, the upper edges of outer panel 103Aand inner panel 103B are received in suitable shaped receiving meansformed in the ceiling 102.

The forward compartment 100 also includes a pivot edge extrusion 110that forms one of the vertical edges of the forward compartment 100.Pivot edge extrusion 110 includes an opening 111 which receives aprojecting member formed on the lower connecting bracket. This will bedescribed in further detail hereunder.

The forward compartment also includes entry door 104. Entry door 104 isattached to entry door extrusion 112. Entry door extrusion 112 receivesentry door pivot assembly 113. Lower entry door pivot assembly 113engages hole 114 formed in the floor 101. Similarly, the upper entrydoor pivot assembly is received in a similar hole (not shown) formed inceiling 102. By this mechanism, the entry door 104 is pivotally mountedto the forward compartment 100. Effectively, entry door 104 is hingedlymounted to the forward compartment 100. The entry door is also providedwith a door seal 115.

The apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention alsoincludes lower bracket 116. Lower bracket 116 is designed to be fixed tothe lower most forward edge of a shower cubicle. Lower bracket 116includes an upwardly extending projection 117. Upwardly extendingprojection 117 is designed to fit into opening 111 on pivot edgeextrusion 110 such that the pivot edge extrusion 110 becomes pivotallymounted to lower bracket 116. It will be understood that this results inthe forward compartment 100 being pivotally mounted to the lower bracket116.

The apparatus may further include an upper bracket 118 that is affixedto an upper part of the shower cubicle. Upper bracket 118 includesaperture 119 for receiving upwardly extending projection 107 on bracket106. A top pivot bearing assembly 120 is preferably fitted to upwardlyextending projection 107 to assist in smooth pivotal operation of theforward enclosure 100.

As will be appreciated, the forward compartment 100 is pivotally mountedto both the lower bracket 116 and the upper bracket 118, which therebyallows the forward compartment to be moved about the respective pivotpoints on the upper and lower brackets.

The apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention alsoincludes a lift mechanism that is essentially the same as that shown inFIG. 6. The components of this lift mechanism are also shown in FIG. 8,and they include a load spreader 121 a base ramp 122, a ramp spring 123,a main spring 124 and a wheel and axle assembly 125.

Finally, the apparatus also includes a further edge extrusion 126 forholding respective edges of the outer panel 103A and inner panel 103B ofwall 103.

When the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is connected to an existingshower cubicle, the apparatus works essentially the same as theapparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. However, it may be necessary to providethe shower cubicle with a false floor 116 a in order to obtain a flat oreven floor in the shower during use. The false floor 116 a may beprovided by fitting the false floor into the existing shower cubicle, orby providing the lower bracket 116 with a false floor that extends intothe shower cubicle (FIG. 8).

The benefits of the present invention in providing a larger showerenclosure are demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9,the shower cubicle is in its closed position. As can be seen, there isonly a small amount of room in the shower cubicle when in that closedposition. However, when the shower cubicle is opened to its extendedposition, as shown in FIG. 10, significantly greater room is providedinside the cubicle.

In other not shown embodiments the earlier mentioned door ramp mechanismmay be replaced by some other suitable door lifting device such as a gasstrut, mechanical lever or the like.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compartment for connecting to a shower cubicle,said compartment comprising a floor a closure panel, an entry doorpivotally mounted to the closure panel, and a connection means forpivotally connecting said compartment to the shower cubicle, saidcompartment being pivotally moveable with respect to said shower cubiclewhen connected thereto such that said compartment is moveable between astandby configuration and an in-use configuration, wherein in thestandby configuration the entry door is substantially stowed within anenclosed space of the shower cubicle and the closure panel closes offthe shower cubicle, and in the in-use configuration, said compartmentpivots about said connection means onto an open position and said entrydoor extends beyond the enclosed space of the shower cubicle to definean entry opening to the shower cubicle.
 2. A compartment as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said connection means comprises a lower bracket formounting to a lower part of the shower cubicle, said lower bracketincluding pivotal mounting means for pivotally mounting said compartmentto said shower cubicle.
 3. A compartment as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid connection means further comprises an upper bracket for mounting toa lower part of the shower cubicle, said upper bracket including pivotalmounting means for pivotally mounting said compartment to said showercubicle.
 4. A compartment as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connectionmeans further comprises upper and lower mounting means on saidcompartment that engage with complementary upper and lower mountingmeans on said shower cubicle to thereby pivotally mount said compartmentto said shower cubicle.
 5. A compartment as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising a lifting mechanism for lifting said compartment as it ispivotally mounted from the in-use configuration to the standbyconfiguration, thereby allowing the floor means of the compartment toraise above and travel over a floor of the shower cubicle.
 6. Acompartment as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lifting mechanismincludes a ramp mechanism on an underside of the floor of thecompartment.
 7. A compartment as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lowerbracket includes a false floor that extends into the shower cubicle whensaid lower bracket in mounted to said shower cubicle.